Apparatuses, systems, and methods for controlling one or more assemblies of an energy generation system

ABSTRACT

Apparatuses, systems, and methods are provided for controlling one or more assemblies of an energy generation system. The method may include selecting at least a portion of the one or more assemblies, transmitting at least one control signal associated with the selected at least a portion of the one or more assemblies, receiving the control signal at a communication module of the one or more assemblies, and modifying an operational parameter of the one or more assemblies responsive to the received control signal to avoid contact between the one or more assemblies and livestock. The operational parameter may be associated with a position of the at least a portion of the one or more assemblies relative to a ground surface. The operational parameter may additionally or alternatively be a range of angle of the at least a portion of the one or more assemblies.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent App. No.63/043,132 filed Jun. 24, 2020, and entitled “APPARATUSES, SYSTEMS, ANDMETHODS FOR CONTROLLING ONE OR MORE ASSEMBLIES OF AN ENERGY GENERATIONSYSTEM,” which is fully incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety.

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains materialthat is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has noobjection to the reproduction of the patent document or the patentdisclosure, as it appears in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office patentfile or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING OR COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates generally to apparatuses, systems, andmethods for controlling one or more assemblies of an energy generationsystem.

Solar panels and other energy generation devices may be moveable, whichmight encounter one or more obstacles while using, thus endangeringagriculture and livestock, such as cattle which might be impacts and/orinjured by panels. What is needed are apparatuses, systems, and methodsto control one or more operations of an energy generation system toprevent such damage.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide apparatuses, systems, andmethods for controlling one or more assemblies of an energy generationsystem. The system may include a photovoltaic design and systemmanagement platform capable of co-locating solar energy generation andagriculture production, for use, for example, with livestock such ascattle.

Aspects of the present disclosure relate to a method of controlling oneor more assemblies of an energy generation system. The method mayinclude selecting at least a portion of the one or more assemblies,transmitting at least one control signal associated with the selected atleast a portion of the one or more assemblies, receiving the controlsignal at a communication module of the one or more assemblies, andmodifying an operational parameter of the one or more assembliesresponsive to the received control signal to avoid contact between theone or more assemblies and livestock. The operational parameter may beassociated with a position of the at least a portion of the one or moreassemblies relative to a ground surface. The operational parameter mayadditionally or alternatively be a range of angle of the at least aportion of the one or more assemblies. The operational parameter mayadditionally or alternatively be 20 degrees from parallel to the groundsurface when operating in a grazing mode (e.g., +/−20 degrees). Theoperational parameter may be between 50-60 degrees from parallel to theground surface when operating in a standard tracking mode (e.g.,+/−50-60 degrees).

The operational parameter may provide a vertical clearance distancebetween a lowest portion of a section of the one or more assemblies anda ground surface. The one or more assemblies may be associated with alivestock paddock of a plurality of paddocks. The at least one controlsignal may be transmitted from a user device. The selecting the at leasta portion of the one or more assemblies may be performed using the userdevice. The method may include transitioning livestock between aplurality of paddocks by designating a current use area, wherein thetransitioning includes placing at least a portion of the one or moreassemblies into a grazing mode and placing at least a portion of the oneor more assemblies into a standard tracking mode from a grazing modebased upon status of the one or more assemblies as being within acurrent use area.

Additional aspects of the present disclosure relate to a method ofcontrolling one or more assemblies of an energy generation systemincluding dividing a useable space into a plurality of regions,capturing solar energy using a plurality of assemblies located at one ormore of the plurality of regions, designating a current use region ofthe plurality of regions, the current use region corresponding to aregion associated with current or expected use by livestock, controllingan operational setting of at least one assembly of the plurality ofassemblies, the at least one assembly associated with the current useregion, and selectively adjusting an operational setting of at least oneassembly of the plurality of assemblies associated status change inrelation to a current use region.

The method may include wherein the designating the current use regioncomprises associating a livestock paddock with a current grazing status,and further comprising obtaining a selection of one or more of theplurality of assemblies associated with the livestock paddock andproviding a control signal to the one or more of the plurality ofassemblies to place the one or more of the plurality of assembliesassociated with the livestock paddock into a grazing mode of operation.The placing the one or more of the plurality of assemblies associatedwith the livestock paddock into a grazing mode of operation may includelimiting movement of at least a portion of the one or more of theplurality of assemblies to avoid contact between livestock within thelivestock paddock and the one or more of the plurality of assemblies.The method may further include determining that a next livestock paddockis available for use, moving livestock within the current use region tothe next livestock paddock, and designating the next livestock paddockas the current use region. The method may further include selecting atleast a portion of the one or more of the plurality of assembliesassociated with the livestock paddock, transmitting at least one controlsignal to the at least a portion of the one or more of the plurality ofassemblies associated with the livestock paddock, and placing the atleast a portion of the one or more of the plurality of assembliesassociated with the livestock paddock into a standard tracking moderesponsive to the at least one control signal.

Still further aspects of the present disclosure relate to an assemblyapparatus including at least one solar cell configured to capture solarenergy, an energy storage configured to store at least a portion ofsolar energy captured by the at least one solar cell, a panel actuatorconfigured to manipulate an operational parameter of the at least onesolar cell, a communication module configured to receive at least onecontrol signal, and a processor configured to control the panel actuatorto manipulate the operational parameter of the at least one solar cellbased at least in part upon the at least one control signal. Theoperational parameter may be a current or expected presence statusadjacent to the at least one solar cell. The presence status may be alivestock presence indication, and the panel actuator may manipulate anorientation of the at least one solar cell responsive to a controlsignal received from the processor responsive to the operationalparameter. The panel actuator may limit movement of the at least onesolar cell within 20 degrees from parallel to a ground surface (e.g.,+/−20 degrees) when the assembly apparatus operates in a grazing mode.The panel actuator may limit movement of the at least one solar cellwithin 55 degrees from parallel to a ground surface (e.g., +/−55 degreesand/or +/−between 50-60 degrees) when the assembly apparatus operates ina standard tracking mode.

Numerous other objects, features, and advantages of the presentinvention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon areading of the following disclosure when taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a partial block networkdiagram according to aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a block diagram of anassembly according to aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a partial side view of anassembly operating in a tracking configuration according to aspects ofthe present disclosure.

FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a partial side view of anassembly operating in a grazing configuration according to aspects ofthe present disclosure.

FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a graph of an impact ofgrazing modes of energy yield according to aspects of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a partial block diagram ofrotation grazing for a ten-paddock area according to aspects of thepresent disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

While the making and using of various embodiments of the presentinvention are discussed in detail below, it should be appreciated thatthe present invention provides many applicable inventive concepts thatcan be embodied in a wide variety of specific contexts. The specificembodiments discussed herein are merely illustrative of specific ways tomake and use the invention and do not delimit the scope of theinvention.

Referring generally to FIGS. 1-6 in conjunction with the description andillustrations herein, various exemplary apparatuses, systems, andmethods are provided according to aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a partial block networkdiagram according to aspects of the present disclosure. The system 100is a simplified partial network block diagram reflecting a functionalcommunicative configuration implementable according to aspects of thepresent disclosure. The system 100 includes a user device 110 coupleableto a network 120, a server 130 coupleable to the network 120, and one ormore assemblies 140 a, 140 b, . . . , 140 n coupleable to the network120. One or more assemblies 140 a, 140 b, . . . , 140 n may or includebe or include a photovoltaic panel or tracker in various embodiments.The server 130 may be a standalone device or in combination with atleast one other external component either local or remotelycommunicatively coupleable with the server 130 (e.g., via the network120).

In one exemplary embodiment, the network 120 includes the Internet, apublic network, a private network, or any other communications mediumcapable of conveying electronic communications. Connection betweenelements or components of FIG. 1 may be configured to be performed bywired interface, wireless interface, or combination thereof, withoutdeparting from the spirit and the scope of the present disclosure. Atleast one of the user device 110 and/or the server 130 may include acommunication unit 118, 138 configured to permit communications forexample via the network 120.

In one exemplary operation, at least one of user device 110 and/orserver 130 is configured to store one or more sets of instructions in avolatile and/or non-volatile storage element 114, 134. The one or moresets of instructions may be configured to be executed by amicroprocessor 112, 132 to perform operations corresponding to the oneor more sets of instructions.

In various exemplary embodiments, at least one of the user device 110and/or server 130 is implemented as at least one of a desktop computer,a server computer, a laptop computer, a smart phone, or any otherelectronic device capable of executing instructions. The microprocessor112, 132 may be a generic hardware processor, a special-purpose hardwareprocessor, or a combination thereof. In embodiments having a generichardware processor (e.g., as a central processing unit (CPU) availablefrom manufacturers such as Intel and AMD), the generic hardwareprocessor is configured to be converted to a special-purpose processorby means of being programmed to execute and/or by executing a particularalgorithm in the manner discussed herein for providing a specificoperation or result.

One or more computing component and/or functional element may beconfigured to operate remotely and may be further configured to obtainor otherwise operate upon one or more instructions stored physicallyremote from the user device 110, server 130, and/or functional element(e.g., via client-server communications and/or cloud-based computing).

At least one of the user device 110 and/or server 130 may include adisplay unit 116, 136. The display unit 116, 136 may be embodied withinthe computing component or functional element in one embodiment and maybe configured to be either wired to or wirelessly interfaced with atleast one other computing component or functional element. The displayunit may be configured to operate, at least in part, based upon one ormore operations of the described herein, as executed by themicroprocessor 112, 132.

Various environmental and operational conditions might impact powergenerated by one or more assemblies 140. For example, solar energyincident on various assemblies 140, ambient temperature, and/or otherfactors may impact power generated by each assembly. Depending upon thenumber and type of assemblies 140 used, the generated power may varywidely in terms of generated voltage and/or current. Changes intemperature, solar irradiance, and shading, either from near objectssuch as trees or far objects such as clouds, may cause power losses.Other factors, such as device age, particle collection on a surface ofthe assembly 140, and/or device degradation, might negatively affectperformance of an assembly 140.

As described herein, an assembly 140 or group of assemblies 140 mayoptionally include or take the form of one or more photovoltaic modulesor arrays, such as described for example in U.S. Pat. No. 10,116,256,which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a block diagram of anassembly 140 according to aspects of the present disclosure. An assembly140 may include one or more of a microprocessor 210, a database 220, oneor more solar cells 230, a panel actuator 240, an energy storage 250, acommunication module 260 and/or an energy transfer module 270. One ormore of the microprocessor 210, the database 220, the one or more solarcells 230, the panel actuator 240, the energy storage 250, thecommunication module 260 and/or the energy transfer module 270 may becommunicatively and/or conductively coupleable to at least one otherelements via a communicative and/or conductive bus. Like microprocessor112, 132, the microprocessor 210 may be a generic hardware processor, aspecial-purpose hardware processor, or a combination thereof. Inembodiments having a generic hardware processor (e.g., as a centralprocessing unit (CPU) available from manufacturers such as Intel andAMD), the generic hardware processor is configured to be converted to aspecial-purpose processor by means of being programmed to execute and/orby executing a particular algorithm in the manner discussed herein forproviding a specific operation or result.

The database 220 may be at least one volatile and/or non-volatilestorage mediums configured to store at least one set of information usedto perform or enable one or more operations described herein. Althoughillustrated as being physically embodied within the assembly 140 itshould be appreciated that at last a portion of the database 220 may beor include at least one storage physically and/or logically remote fromthe assembly 140 (for example, in the case of distributed or cloud-basedstorage, either in whole or in part). One or more solar cells 230 may beused to capture solar energy and to convert the captured energy into astorable form, which may be stored for example at the energy storage250. One or more solar cell 230 may be a photovoltaic cell or othersolar energy capture element. Although described with reference to asolar cell it should be appreciated that at least one cell 230 may beany form of energy capturing or generation device. For example, at leastone cell 230 may include a wind turbine, hydroelectric turbine, or anyother form of energy capture or generation element capable of beingphysically moved or adjusted to avoid one or more entities which mightcome into physical contact with the cell 230. A panel actuator 240 maybe configured to adjust and/or set an operating position of at least onesolar cell 230, for example to capture a maximum amount of solar energyand/or to avoid one or more obstacles within a physical movement rangeof the at least one solar cell 230. At least one solar cell 230 may beor include a non-flat solar tile in various embodiments.

The energy storage 250 may be an energy storage element capable ofstoring at least a portion of energy captured or generated by at leastone cell 230. The energy storage 250 may be a battery or capacitivestorage element in various embodiments which is configured to receivecharging power from at least one cell 230.

The communication module 260 may be configured to be communicativelycoupleable to one or more elements via a wired connection, a wirelessconnection, or combination thereof. In various embodiments, thecommunication module 260 may be configured to communicate with anothercommunication module 260 of another assembly 140 within a wired and/orwireless communication range (for example, form a daisy-chain styleconfiguration and/or to form a redundant communication configuration).At least one communication module 260 may be configured to communicatevia the network 120, for example to one or more of the user device 110and/or server 130. The assembly 140 may be configured to transmit and/orreceive one or more of operation parameters, settings, configuration,usage information, current and/or historical data, hardware informationor hardware update information, or any other information to and/or fromone or more of the user device 110 and/or server 130 during operation toenable and/or perform one or more functions described herein.

An energy transfer module 270 may be configured to transmit and/or toreceive power to/from the assembly 140. For example, the energy transfermodule 270 may be configured to output power generated by the assembly140, for example as currently being generated by the assembly 140 and/oras stored at the energy storage 250. In various embodiments, a group ofassemblies 140 may share one or more energy storages 250 local to and/orremote from each assembly 140 and may transmit generated power to theone or more energy storage 250 for storage during operation.

FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a partial side view of anassembly operating in a tracking configuration according to aspects ofthe present disclosure. FIG. 4 similarly illustrates an exemplaryembodiment of a partial side view of an assembly operating in a grazingconfiguration according to aspects of the present disclosure. Asillustrated by the configurations provided by FIGS. 3 and 4, an assembly140 may be adjusted, for example, between a range of +/−20 degrees (FIG.4) and +/−50-60 (e.g., 55) degrees (FIG. 3) relative to a groundsurface. Based on these angular distances, a significant range ofdistance from a solar cell 230 of the assembly 140 from a ground surfacemay be varied during operation. For example, in the configurationillustrated by FIG. 3, a 55-degree angle of a solar cell 230 of theassembly 140 relative to the ground surface would result in an end ofthe solar cell 230 being just two feet from the ground surface, whereasa 20-degree angle of the solar cell 230 relative to the ground surfaceas illustrated by FIG. 4 would result in an end of the solar cell 230being five feet from the ground surface. In various embodiments, atleast one solar cell 230 of an assembly 140 may be configured toactively track the motion of the sun to generate maximum energy, forexample, in the range between 20 to 55 degrees relative to groundsurface as illustrated by FIGS. 3 and 4.

In various exemplary embodiments, a standard tracking mode may include a+/−55-degree tracking angle limit. A clearance limit to ground surfacemay be implemented, such as a two-foot height requirement from the solarcell 230 to ground surface, although different values maybe implementedwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.In a rotating ten-paddock example, a particular assembly 140 may beconfigured to operate in the standard tracking mode for 90% of the timeassuming an equal distribution of time across each paddock area. Incontrast, in a grazing mode there may be a +/−20-degree tracking anglelimit. A clearance limit to ground surface may be implemented, such as afive-foot height requirement from the solar cell 230 to ground surface,although different values maybe implemented without departing from thespirit and scope of the present disclosure. In a rotating ten-paddockexample, a particular assembly 140 may be configured to operate in thegrazing mode for 10% of the time assuming an equal distribution of timeacross each paddock area. The grazing mode reduced angle tracking mayresult in lower power generation, such as, for example, an 1897MWh/MWp/a value for the standard tracking mode as compared to a value of1777 MWh/MWp/a for the grazing mode.

A height of five feet while operating at 20 degrees from surface such asillustrated by FIG. 4 might be sufficient in many embodiments to permitlivestock such as cattle to freely graze and roam beneath the solarcells 230 without being impacted by the solar cells 230 and therebycausing damage to the solar cells 230 and/or livestock, although otherheights and angles may be used without departing from the spirit andscope of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a graph of an impact ofgrazing modes of energy yield according to aspects of the presentdisclosure. Having livestock share space with power generation systemsmight involve multiple trade-offs. For example, as illustrated by thegraph 500, clearance from grade of the ground surface may be a dimensionto eliminate animal to equipment interaction. One solution to permitboth power generation and animals in a common space or paddock may beprovided by increasing a pile height of the solar cells 230 from theground surface. However, such implementation might significantlyincrease the cost of both the power generation system hardware but alsoinstallation cost. In various embodiments, range of movement of one ormore solar cell(s) 230 may be configured to move a maximum of 20 degreesrelative to the ground surface to avoid animals, or may be configured toplace the assembly 140 in a flat, zero-degree (e.g., stow) configurationto provide maximum clearance for animals when the space of paddock isbeing shared. Notably, these configurations might negatively affectpower generation by one or more assemblies 140 in a shared space, asillustrated by FIG. 5.

In various exemplary embodiments, livestock such as cattle might onlygraze in a paddock for a limited portion of time (e.g., 10% in aten-paddock configuration), but this can fluctuate depending on numerousfactors, such as grass and weather conditions. A pile height associatedwith an assembly 140 may be raised, however doing so increases cost tothe structure and to the installation. In various embodiments, an angleof the solar cell 230 may be adjusted relative to a stow position ofzero degrees relative to a ground surface. Stowing the solar cell 230may place the assembly 140 in its safest position, for example from windor animal interaction.

In various embodiments, a solar cell 230 may be placed in a stowconfiguration parallel to a ground surface. The solar cell 230 may be,for example, seven feet above the ground surface in an exemplaryembodiment, although other heights may be implemented according tofactors such as terrain, height of an object to avoid, or any othercriteria. In a grazing operation such as illustrated by FIG. 4, aminimum distance from the solar cell 230 to the ground surface may befive feet, although other heights may be implemented according tofactors such as terrain, height of an object to avoid, or any othercriteria.

In various exemplary embodiments, operation in the grazing mode mayreduce power production. For example, in a +/−55-degree standardtracking mode as compared to a +/−20-degree grazing mode, overallproduction may be reduced by 5.7% assuming a ten-paddock configuration.If operated in the grazing mode for 10% of the time, there may be a0.57% annual loss in production in this scenario, assuming aseven-foot-tall assembly 140 having a 33% Ground Coverage Ratio (GCR)Bifacial system. At standard operation, the standard tracking mode mayproduce an output of 1897 MWh/MWp whereas the grazing mode may result inan output of 1777 MWh/MWp. Thus, assuming 10% grazing mode operation, atotal average production would be 1885 MWh/MWp.

Implementations consistent with the present disclosure may permitlivestock movement through an energy generation system using one or morephysical and/or virtual livestock fencing configurations integrated intoa tracker control function, of various inverter blocks for example.These configurations may include geofencing applications, virtualfencing, fenceless control systems, Global Positioning System (GPS) eartags, or any other control scheme implementable by an energy generationsystem described herein. In various embodiments a property may besubdivided by inverter blocks, or sub-blocks, using these variousinterior fencing systems to accommodate one or more forms of “rotationalgrazing.” Examples of rotational grazing may include AdaptiveMulti-Paddock Grazing (AMP Grazing), management intensive rotationalgrazing, holistic planned grazing, mob grazing, or the like.

Livestock may be rotated through each subdivision as needed, based atleast in part upon environmental conditions, forage quality andquantity, livestock production considerations, or the like. One or moretracker modules may be applied to at least one assembly 140 and may beactivated, for example, by a rancher when a particular area or paddockis being opened to livestock. Additionally or alternatively, one or moretracker modules may be capable of independently and/or dynamicallydetermining when livestock or other possible obstructions within rangeand transitioning at least one assembly 140 to a grazing mode. Assuminga ten-subdivision area, only the 10% of area where livestock iscurrently located may be set within a grazing mode at any time. As such,the remaining 90% of area may be maintained in a standard tracking modesuch that the assemblies 140 contained therein are capable of angularadjustment within an entire range of motion, without risk of damage toassembly 140 or livestock.

The cattle grazing mode may be selected by a user (for example, arancher) for a particular area and corresponding assemblies 140 using anapp installed at the user device 110 or interface accessible to the uservia the user device 110 such as a webpage via network 120. The userdevice 110 may be configured to transmit at least one parameter to atleast one assembly 140 according to the designated mode, for example viathe network 120. Similarly, a user may select one or more areas andcorresponding assemblies 140 into a standard tracking mode whenlivestock are not present, and the designation may similarly betransmitted from the user device 110 via the network 120.

FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a partial block diagram ofrotation grazing system for a ten-paddock area according to aspects ofthe present disclosure. The system 600 includes ten paddocks 602 a, 602b, 602 c, 602 d, 602 e, 602 f, 602 g, 602 h, 602 i, and 602 j. Althoughten paddocks are illustrated, it should be appreciated that any numberof paddocks may be used without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe present disclosure. Although described as paddocks, it should beappreciated that a paddock may be any designated space or area, and isnot necessarily limited to enclosures, equal areas, or other limitationon size, shape, location, and/or usage as used herein.

A paddock 602 a may be designated as a current usage area in theexemplary embodiment illustrated by FIG. 6. The current usage areapaddock may include one or more assemblies 140 associated therewithwhich may be selectively designated in an operational mode relating tocurrent usage. For example, the current usage area paddock may have oneor more assemblies 140 which may be placed in a presence state and mayselectively be placed or maintained in a mode relating to the presenceof one or more animals or elements which might come into contact with anassembly 140, such as at a solar cell 230 thereof. The current usagearea paddock may be configured to move between the paddocks 602 in adirection D, for example in a clockwise or counterclockwise manner,although any ordering or direction may be used. Transition betweenpaddocks may be configured to be evenly distributed in timing or may beseparately timed according to a predetermined or dynamically determinedbasis. When transitioning from a previous are, such as the paddock 602 jin the embodiment illustrated by FIG. 6, a user such as a rancher maydesignate the next current area, such as 602 a. Additionally oralternatively, the system may be configured to transition betweencurrent area paddocks 602 without requiring human intervention, such asbased upon an automatic timing or herding configuration.

Once a next area is selected, a control signal may be transmitted to oneor more assemblies 140 (e.g., as received at a communication module 260thereof) to designate an operating mode, such as a presence mode, andone or more assemblies 140. This may include transitioning ormaintaining one or more assemblies 140 in a presence (e.g., grazing)mode. The microprocessor 210 of an assembly 140 may be configured tocontrol the panel actuator 240 to restrict an angle of one or more solarcells 230 to within a presence mode range, such as +/−20-degrees fromparallel to ground, although other angle ranges may be used withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Aprevious area which had been designated as the current use area may beconfigured to control one or more assemblies 140 to transition to ormaintain a standard tracking mode. The microprocessor 210 of an assembly140 may be configured to control the panel actuator 240 to restrict anangle of one or more solar cells 230 to within a standard tracking moderange, such as +/−55-degrees from parallel to ground, although otherangle ranges may be used without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe present disclosure. Although placed in the standard tracking mode,one or more assemblies 140 may be configured to detect the presence ofan object which might contact at least a portion of the assembly 140during operation and may be configured to adjust one or more angle(s) ofoperation or other operational parameter so as to avoid the object, forexample in real-time and/or in a predetermined manner.

In operation, a paddock 602 which is currently in grazing mode may beused to promote clearance for animals or other objects and maycorrespondingly change the energy generation profile. For a nextdestination paddock, an assembly 140 may be in a standard tracking mode.A user, such as a rancher or an electronic component may evaluate foragequality, water provisions, paddock fencing, and/or other element(s) andmay selectively command one or more assemblies 140 to enter a grazingmode and may further verify that the paddock and assembly 140 are readyfor animals. For a previous paddock having animals recently departed,grass within the paddock may begin regrowing. A user such as a rancheror an electronic component may return one or more assemblies of theprevious paddock area to a standard tracking mode when all animals areconfirmed to have left the paddock.

In operation during a cattle grazing example, a solar project may besegmented into multiple paddocks. Cattle may graze in one paddockintensely, while forage in other paddocks may recover and regrow. Apaddock may be defined by one or more commonly controlled assemblies140, a common electrical solar array, and may be fenced or virtuallyfenced. A rancher may prepare paddocks for animals, including defining acontrol state of one or more paddocks, and may escort animals whenconditions for grazing are ready.

In addition to providing one or more operations previously describedherein, implementations consistent with the present disclosure mayprovide numerous further advantages. For example, one or more sets ofweather station instrumentation may be implemented or improved,including eddy covariance flux towers, soil moisture sensors, soiltemperature sensors (e.g., share temperature and/or full sun temperaturenot under module measurement), and/or various configurations of remotesensing of a surrounding ecosystem function. The eddy covariance fluxtowers may be configured to directly or indirectly measure GreenhouseGas (GHG) flux between atmosphere and soil on solar land, for example bymeasuring a flux value associated with one or more of NO₂, CO₂, H₂O,NH₃, or any other measurable GHG.

Implementations consistent with the present disclosure may include amethod of controlling one or more assemblies of an energy generationsystem. The method may include selecting at least a portion of the oneor more assemblies, transmitting at least one control signal associatedwith the selected at least a portion of the one or more assemblies,receiving the control signal at a communication module of the one ormore assemblies, and modifying an operational parameter of the one ormore assemblies responsive to the received control signal to avoidcontact between the one or more assemblies and livestock. Theoperational parameter may be associated with a position of the at leasta portion of the one or more assemblies relative to a ground surface.The operational parameter may additionally or alternatively be a rangeof angle of the at least a portion of the one or more assemblies. Theoperational parameter may additionally or alternatively be 20 degreesfrom parallel to the ground surface when operating in a grazing mode(e.g., +/−20 degrees). The operational parameter may be between 50-60degrees from parallel to the ground surface when operating in a standardtracking mode (e.g., +/−50-60 degrees).

The operational parameter may provide a vertical clearance distancebetween a lowest portion of a section of the one or more assemblies anda ground surface. The one or more assemblies may be associated with alivestock paddock of a plurality of paddocks. The at least one controlsignal may be transmitted from a user device. The selecting the at leasta portion of the one or more assemblies may be performed using the userdevice. The method may include transitioning livestock between aplurality of paddocks by designating a current use area, wherein thetransitioning includes placing at least a portion of the one or moreassemblies into a grazing mode and placing at least a portion of the oneor more assemblies into a standard tracking mode from a grazing modebased upon status of the one or more assemblies as being within acurrent use area.

Implementations consistent with the present disclosure may furtherinclude a method of controlling one or more assemblies of an energygeneration system including dividing a useable space into a plurality ofregions, capturing solar energy using a plurality of assemblies locatedat one or more of the plurality of regions, designating a current useregion of the plurality of regions, the current use region correspondingto a region associated with current or expected use by livestock,controlling an operational setting of at least one assembly of theplurality of assemblies, the at least one assembly associated with thecurrent use region, and selectively adjusting an operational setting ofat least one assembly of the plurality of assemblies associated statuschange in relation to a current use region.

The method may include wherein the designating the current use regioncomprises associating a livestock paddock with a current grazing status,and further comprising obtaining a selection of one or more of theplurality of assemblies associated with the livestock paddock andproviding a control signal to the one or more of the plurality ofassemblies to place the one or more of the plurality of assembliesassociated with the livestock paddock into a grazing mode of operation.The placing the one or more of the plurality of assemblies associatedwith the livestock paddock into a grazing mode of operation may includelimiting movement of at least a portion of the one or more of theplurality of assemblies to avoid contact between livestock within thelivestock paddock and the one or more of the plurality of assemblies.The method may further include determining that a next livestock paddockis available for use, moving livestock within the current use region tothe next livestock paddock, and designating the next livestock paddockas the current use region. The method may further include selecting atleast a portion of the one or more of the plurality of assembliesassociated with the livestock paddock, transmitting at least one controlsignal to the at least a portion of the one or more of the plurality ofassemblies associated with the livestock paddock, and placing the atleast a portion of the one or more of the plurality of assembliesassociated with the livestock paddock into a standard tracking moderesponsive to the at least one control signal.

Implementations consistent with the present disclosure may furtherinclude an assembly apparatus including at least one solar cellconfigured to capture solar energy, an energy storage configured tostore at least a portion of solar energy captured by the at least onesolar cell, a panel actuator configured to manipulate an operationalparameter of the at least one solar cell, a communication moduleconfigured to receive at least one control signal, and a processorconfigured to control the panel actuator to manipulate the operationalparameter of the at least one solar cell based at least in part upon theat least one control signal. The operational parameter may be a currentor expected presence status adjacent to the at least one solar cell. Thepresence status may be a livestock presence indication, and the panelactuator may manipulate an orientation of the at least one solar cellresponsive to a control signal received from the processor responsive tothe operational parameter. The panel actuator may limit movement of theat least one solar cell within 20 degrees from parallel to a groundsurface (e.g., +/−20 degrees) when the assembly apparatus operates in agrazing mode. The panel actuator may limit movement of the at least onesolar cell within 55 degrees from parallel to a ground surface (e.g.,+/−55 degrees and/or +/−between 50-60 degrees) when the assemblyapparatus operates in a standard tracking mode.

To facilitate the understanding of the embodiments described herein, anumber of terms are defined below. The terms defined herein havemeanings as commonly understood by a person of ordinary skill in theareas relevant to the present invention. Terms such as “a,” “an,” and“the” are not intended to refer to only a singular entity, but ratherinclude the general class of which a specific example may be used forillustration. The terminology herein is used to describe specificembodiments of the invention, but their usage does not delimit theinvention, except as set forth in the claims. The phrase “in oneembodiment,” as used herein does not necessarily refer to the sameembodiment, although it may.

Conditional language used herein, such as, among others, “can,” “might,”“may,” “e.g.,” and the like, unless specifically stated otherwise, orotherwise understood within the context as used, is generally intendedto convey that certain embodiments include, while other embodiments donot include, certain features, elements and/or states. Thus, suchconditional language is not generally intended to imply that features,elements and/or states are in any way required for one or moreembodiments or that one or more embodiments necessarily include logicfor deciding, with or without author input or prompting, whether thesefeatures, elements and/or states are included or are to be performed inany particular embodiment.

The previous detailed description has been provided for the purposes ofillustration and description. Thus, although there have been describedparticular embodiments of a new and useful invention, it is not intendedthat such references be construed as limitations upon the scope of thisinvention except as set forth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of controlling one or more assemblies ofan energy generation system, comprising: selecting at least a portion ofthe one or more assemblies; transmitting at least one control signalassociated with the selected at least a portion of the one or moreassemblies; receiving the control signal at a communication module ofthe at least a portion of one or more assemblies; and modifying anoperational parameter of the at least a portion of one or moreassemblies responsive to the received control signal to avoid contactbetween the one or more assemblies and livestock.
 2. The method of claim1, wherein the operational parameter is associated with a position ofthe at least a portion of the one or more assemblies relative to aground surface.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the operationalparameter is a range of angle of the at least a portion of the one ormore assemblies.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the operationalparameter is 20 degrees from parallel to the ground surface whenoperating in a grazing mode.
 5. The method of claim 3, wherein theoperational parameter is between 50-60 degrees from parallel to theground surface when operating in a standard tracking mode.
 6. The methodof claim 2, wherein the operational parameter is configured to provide avertical clearance distance between a lowest portion of a section of theat least a portion of one or more assemblies and a ground surface. 7.The method of claim 1, wherein the at least a portion of the one or moreassemblies are associated with a livestock paddock of a plurality ofpaddocks.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one controlsignal is transmitted from a user device.
 9. The method of claim 8,wherein the selecting the at least a portion of the one or moreassemblies is performed using the user device.
 10. The method of claim1, further comprising: transitioning livestock between a plurality ofpaddocks by designating a current use area, wherein the transitioningincludes placing at least a portion of the one or more assemblies into agrazing mode and placing at least a portion of the one or moreassemblies into a standard tracking mode from a grazing mode based uponstatus of the one or more assemblies as being within a current use area.11. A method of controlling one or more assemblies of an energygeneration system, comprising: dividing a useable space into a pluralityof regions; capturing solar energy using a plurality of assemblieslocated at one or more of the plurality of regions; designating acurrent use region of the plurality of regions, the current use regioncorresponding to a region associated with current or expected use bylivestock; controlling an operational setting of at least one assemblyof the plurality of assemblies, the at least one assembly associatedwith the current use region; and selectively adjusting an operationalsetting of at least one assembly of the plurality of assembliesassociated status change in relation to a current use region.
 12. Themethod of claim 11, wherein the designating the current use regioncomprises associating a livestock paddock with a current grazing status,and further comprising obtaining a selection of one or more of theplurality of assemblies associated with the livestock paddock andproviding a control signal to the one or more of the plurality ofassemblies to place the one or more of the plurality of assembliesassociated with the livestock paddock into a grazing mode of operation.13. The method of claim 12, wherein placing the one or more of theplurality of assemblies associated with the livestock paddock into agrazing mode of operation includes limiting movement of at least aportion of the one or more of the plurality of assemblies to avoidcontact between livestock within the livestock paddock and the one ormore of the plurality of assemblies.
 14. The method of claim 13, furthercomprising: determining that a next livestock paddock is available foruse; moving livestock within the current use region to the nextlivestock paddock; and designating the next livestock paddock as thecurrent use region.
 15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:selecting at least a portion of the one or more of the plurality ofassemblies associated with the livestock paddock; transmitting at leastone control signal to the at least a portion of the one or more of theplurality of assemblies associated with the livestock paddock; andplacing the at least a portion of the one or more of the plurality ofassemblies associated with the livestock paddock into a standardtracking mode responsive to the at least one control signal.
 16. Anassembly apparatus, comprising: at least one solar cell configured tocapture solar energy; an energy storage configured to store at least aportion of solar energy captured by the at least one solar cell; a panelactuator configured to manipulate an operational parameter of the atleast one solar cell; a communication module configured to receive atleast one control signal; and a processor configured to control thepanel actuator to manipulate the operational parameter of the at leastone solar cell based at least in part upon the at least one controlsignal.
 17. The assembly apparatus of claim 16, wherein the operationalparameter is a current or expected presence status adjacent to the atleast one solar cell.
 18. The assembly apparatus of claim 17, whereinthe presence status is a livestock presence indication, and furtherwherein the panel actuator is configured to manipulate an orientation ofthe at least one solar cell responsive to a control signal received fromthe processor responsive to the operational parameter.
 19. The assemblyapparatus of claim 16, wherein the panel actuator is configured to limitmovement of the at least one solar cell within 20 degrees from parallelto a ground surface when the assembly apparatus operates in a grazingmode.
 20. The assembly apparatus of claim 16, wherein the panel actuatoris configured to limit movement of the at least one solar cell within 55degrees from parallel to a ground surface when the assembly apparatusoperates in a standard tracking mode.